Today, May 3rd is going down in History as the date when the first Solar Flight will ever take place. The world media is labeling this Solar flight on the aircraft-Solar Impulse as the 'Charles Lindbergh moment' in Aviation History.This day is set to be marked when the team of the Solar powered airplane will initiate a pioneering trip across America from the bay of San Francisco to Lambert, St Louis International airport- All with only the help of a renewable energy source and not a drop of fuel. Bertrand Piccard uses the word “pioneer” as the attempt speaks of a courage and vision required for a cross-country mission of this magnitude.

This attempt to fly across the continent also has a secondary objective- that is to adopt clean technologies and renewable energies to increase efficiency and to foster a clean and green living environment. An earlier successful attempt was made by the Swiss Solar Impulse in 2010 when it embarked on the first-ever solar-powered night flight, and again in 2012 when it made the first intercontinental solar-powered flight (Europe to North Africa). Even as we speak and as the solar powered plane embarks on its transcontinental journey today, the company is developing a second larger aircraft with which it hopes to fly solar powered around the world in 2015. 

The showcasing of the Solar Impulse will demonstrate the possibilities of solar flight to the public.The design of the airplane is lighter than that of a car(3500 lbs) and its wingspan is 208 feet, about the same as a jumbo jet.The plane has solar cells on its wings that can collect and store energy making even night flight possible. The solar cells provide power to four 10hp electric motors recharging the aircraft’s lithium batteries during the day flight which allows the plane to continue flying at night.